Rédaction Africa Links 24 with ANGONOTÍCIAS
Published on 2024-02-29 10:30:19
An average of 3,150 citizens cross the Santa Clara border daily, which divides the Republic of Angola and the neighboring Republic of Namibia. This migratory movement of citizens from both sides makes the border the most important in terms of land circulation in Angola, said the chief of the Santa Clara border post and migration inspector, Yanes Lupeke. “Santa Clara is considered the second largest border in the country after the International Airport, but in terms of land movement, we can say that Santa Clara is practically number one.
“There are days when it surpasses the other land borders in the country,” he said. The government of Cunene, a province in Angola that shares a large part of the border with Namibia, has no doubts about the impact on commercial relations. The most recent data from the period 2020 to 2022 indicate that, in terms of commercial exchanges, the average of imports amounted to 115 billion kwanzas, and above seven billion kwanzas in exports.
The period between 2010 and 2015 was the best in terms of commercial exchanges, with the business volume reaching over 600 billion kwanzas. Currently, Namibians mainly seek fuel and other agricultural products in Angola, such as sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and pearl millet, while Angolans import vehicles, furniture, and other goods and services.
According to the director of integrated economic development in Cunene, Gilberto Shomongula, despite the economic crisis in the country, commercial exchanges through Santa Clara with other countries in the southern region are significant. “This border allows goods from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho to pass through.”
Almost all Southern African countries use this border,” he said. The president of the Cunene Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jorge Chimuandi, believes that commercial exchanges between the two countries could be improved in the perspective of continental free trade integration with incentives for small and medium enterprises. “SADC and governments have to create a capital called microfinance, which is a fund that will be able to capitalize these people or say help in case of risk,” he said.
Economist Paulo Félix expects a new dynamic at the Santa Clara border with regional integration. “If, on the one hand, in terms of revenue collection from taxes and other fees, there will be a decrease, on the other hand, the increased flow of goods and services will also provide greater activity and therefore also greater income,” he said.
It is worth mentioning that Angola and Namibia share a common border of 1,376 kilometers.
Read the original article (Portuguese) on Angonoticias
